Prevention is the best medicine
- Keep your house temperature at 68 degrees
- Open cabinet doors below sinks to allow heat to circulate.
- Wrap susceptible pipes (along exterior walls and in crawl spaces) with pipe insulation or heating tape.
- Heat your basement and consider weather sealing your windows.
- Insulate exterior walls, as well as your crawlspace, attic and garage.
- Allow a faucet to drip slightly (lukewarm water) in order to minimize freezing.
Pay Attention
- Know what to look for – watch for reduced water flow.
- Check your water pressure at night, and in the morning.
- Identify and reduce drafts that are near exposed pipes.
Take Action
- Thaw a frozen pipe with a hair dryer, or wrap them with towels that have been soaked in hot water – never an open flame!
- Start thawing nearest to the faucet – leave the water running so the water has somewhere to go!
When Disaster Strikes
- Shut off water at the main valve. (Make sure you know the location of your main shut off valve, and the hot water tank valve)
- If a hot water pipe breaks, close the valve on top of the water heater.
- Call a plumber.